Update from Health Canada’s WHMIS Current Issues Committee – WHMIS after GHS

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Health Canada is changing the Federal WHMIS legislation to bring it in line with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).  An international team of hazard communication experts developed GHS with the goal of having the same set of rules for classifying hazards, and the same format and content for labels and safety data sheets adopted and used around the world.

Currently many different countries have different systems for classification and labeling of chemical products. This situation has been expensive for governments to regulate and enforce, costly for companies who have to comply with many different systems, and confusing for workers who need to understand the hazards of a chemical in order to work safely.

In Canada, the current roles and responsibilities for suppliers, employers and workers likely will not change in WHMIS after GHS.

Employers must continue to:

  • Educate and train workers on the hazards and safe use of products.
  • Ensure that hazardous materials are properly labelled.
  • Prepare workplace labels and SDSs as necessary.
  • Provide access for workers to up-to-date SDSs.
  • Ensure appropriate control measures are in place to protect the health and safety of workers.

Workers will still:

  • Participate in WHMIS and chemical safety training programs.
  • Take necessary steps to protect themselves and their coworkers.
  • Participate in identifying and controlling hazards.

However, employers will need to update their education and training of workers to include the new format of labels and data sheets. Products with new Data Sheets and Hazard Symbols may start appearing on construction sites as early as Spring 2015.

Numerous resources are available for this, including:

HRM Specification Changes for 2015

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Click HERE for a summary of the specification changes for 2015.

New OH&S Regulations Public Consultation Sessions

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NS Depart. of Labour and Advanced Education (LAE) is in the process of changing 13 of the OH&S regulations and these changes establish Workplace Health and Safety Regulations. Join OEA and the employer community as they review the draft changes, new items and discuss the impact to employers and Nova Scotia businesses.

Want to Register?

Please click the following link: HERE and complete the registration fields below the posting.  You will recieve a confirmation e-mail within 24 hours.

If you have any questions, please contact Robert Benoit at robert.benoit@oeans.ca or 902-442-9367.

Administrative Penalties Changes in Effect as of October 1st, 2014

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On December 4, 2013 the Minister introduced changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act as a first step to implementing a new administrative penalties system. These particular changes (Bill no 12) will focus on a simplified single appeal process for Compliance Orders and administrative penalties and provide legislative authority to direct funds collected through administrative penalties towards workplace safety initiatives. The details of the bill may be found at the Legislative counsel website. Learn more.

Helping Apprentices Complete Training Sooner, Easier

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October 24, 2014 9:30 AM

Proposed amendments to the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act introduced today, Oct. 24, will help more apprentices complete their training sooner and easier.

Nova Scotia apprentices who pursue on-the-job-training in another province will no longer have to register in that province. Instead, they can remain registered in Nova Scotia. This lets them start training more quickly, and saves paying extra fees and writing more exams.

The legislation also ensures out-of-province on-the-job and trades training is recognized, meeting a government commitment.

“I think Nova Scotia is taking the right steps,” said Jared Grover, a second-year pipe-trade student at Nova Scotia Community College. “I would absolutely love to stay in Nova Scotia. It’s where my friends and family are. This is always home. Now, if I have to go away, I can come back, start a life, start a family and eventually retire.”Currently, only about half of apprentices registered in Nova Scotia complete their certification.”We know that Nova Scotians want to build a life here,” said Kelly Regan, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. “This legislation helps apprentices get the training they need more quickly and at less cost so they can qualify for the good jobs in Nova Scotia.”Once registered in Nova Scotia, the Apprenticeship Agency will work with the province where the apprentice is, and ensure they are getting the proper training and experience to complete the program. Nova Scotia Community College training will also be recognized elsewhere.

“The role of the new agency is to work with industry to open up more opportunities for Nova Scotia apprentices,” said Marjorie Davison, CEO of the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. “To accomplish this, we need to make it easier for our apprentices to get the training they need to complete their journey.”

Amendments will also allow the agency to make agreements with other provinces to ensure apprentice experience and training is recognized, and the training meets a quality standard.
These amendments complement work already underway to enhance consistency in apprenticeship programs across the country.

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Dept. Labour and Advanced Education Media Contact: Chrissy Matheson
902-424-0281
Cell: 902-219-3121
E-mail: mathescl@gov.ns.ca

CCA supports release of Asset Management Primer

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The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) applauded the release of the Asset Management Primer, part of the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card, which details the important need for asset management plans for Canadian municipalities, as well as recommendations for implementing asset management practices.  

“The release of the Asset Management Primer as a follow-up to the 2012 Canadian Infrastructure Report Card is a great next step to tracking and monitoring the importance of ongoing infrastructure investment in Canada,” said Michael Atkinson, president of the CCA. “Since what gets measured, gets done, this primer will go a long way to assisting municipalities in their efforts to continually improve and build the infrastructure that drives the Canadian economy.”

The first-of-its-kind Canadian Infrastructure Report Card indicated that fewer than 15 per cent of municipalities could provide asset condition information that was derived from asset management processes. While the condition of aboveground assets is more easily identified, assets not as visible are only more accurately monitored with asset management processes. 

This past year saw increased awareness and promotion of asset management processes, including the federal government highlighting their importance in the New Building Canada Plan, the province of Ontario requiring asset management plans as eligibility for some provincial funding, and a number of municipalities developing their own asset management plans. 

“This primer once again showcases the importance of strong asset management to the long-term viability and sustainability of our core public infrastructure assets,” added Atkinson.

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency Update Event

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The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency invites you to attend an Update Event. This event will be an opportunity for you to network with your colleagues, enjoy a warm meal, hear about our progress and help us identify how to better engage employers in the Apprenticeship and Trades Certification System.

Apprenticeship Agency Update Events are being held at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses across the province between October 20th and 29th, 2014. Below, please find a list of the session locations, dates and times. As meeting times vary by location, please make sure to register online for the session that is most convenient for you!

DATES:

October 20th
– Kentville, NSCC Kingstec Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
– Bridgewater, NSCC Lunenburg Campus, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
October 23rd
– Yarmouth, NSCC Burridge Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
October 27th
– Dartmouth, NSCC Waterfront Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
October 28th
– Sydney, NSCC Marconi Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
– Port Hawkesbury, NSCC Strait Area Campus, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
October 29th
– Stellarton, NSCC Pictou Campus, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
– Truro, NSCC Truro Campus, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Builders’ Lien Act Clarified

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Amendments introduced today, Oct. 2, to the Builders’ Lien Act expand on changes made in 2013, and bring more clarity and consistency to the act. 

The act governs practices by owners, contractors and subcontractors for claims against a property by a business or person who has supplied labor or materials for work on it. The liens protect people from not being paid for their work or goods they provided on a project. 

Previous amendments allow owners and contractors to release holdback money to subcontractors as stages of a large project are completed. Before then, commercial builders would hold back 10 per cent of the total cost and could not fully release the holdback until the entire project was complete. 

Minor amendments now being made include:

— allowing an owner to continue to make payments to a contractor, up to 90 per cent, after receiving notice of a lien 
— requiring an owner to pay interest if they do not make a payment within 65 days of being permitted to, after a subcontract has been certified complete 
— allowing a holdback to be released if a lien has been vacated or cancelled
— aligning language introduced in the 2013 amendments with the language of the act.

To review amendments introduced in 2013, visit http://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20130506007 .

152nd Annual General Meeting

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The CANS 152nd Annual General Meeting was held October 3rd-5th, 2014 at Rodd Brudenell River Resort in PEI. Over 130 CANS members attended the weekend-long event and enjoyed networking, keynote speakers, and Strategic Priority Area Committee Reports at the CANS AGM Business Session.

Read more.

CANS CAMPAIGN FOR IWK RAISED $1,581,543.00!

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“CANS and members of the construction industry know the importance of building healthy communities,” said Adrian Morrison, regional vice president with Black & McDonald and chair of the CANS Campaign for the IWK. “As Atlantic Canadian builders, we believe in creating world-class facilities right here at home. Our families deserve nothing less. We’re extremely proud to be able to have this kind of impact.” Read more.